A drinker appeared in court yesterday accused of assaulting a barman after being refused service – by throwing lemons.

Magistrates at Llandudno decided not to activate a suspended jail term on Ronnie Ellis Jones, 44, unemployed, of Min y Ddol, Bangor but added 100 hours unpaid work, told him to attend a “thinking skills” programme and awarded £50 compensation to the worker.

He admitted common assault on the barman and two other people.

Jones was also banned for a year from all bars at Llandudno and must pay £145 costs.

Prosecutor James Neary said Jones and another man were described as appearing “spaced out” and began to shout and argue after being refused alcohol at the Carlton pub at Llandudno.

Customers intervened and ejected Jones.

But an unknown man was punched by him and a woman was kicked to her bottom.

Originally police charged Jones with disorderly behaviour but assault charges were laid by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Defence solicitor Deborah Davies said Jones had been drinking with his nephew. Lemons and ice cubes were thrown before he was dragged out of the pub.

“These offences were not nice, they shouldn’t have happened. He should have walked away.

“Alcohol is a demon and he needs to sort it out,” the solicitor added.